Today we’d like to introduce you to Annie Fleishman.
Hi Annie, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
The first time I ever heard sound bowls was through an audio recording in an acupuncture session, which definitely got me intrigued! I remember a couple years back a therapist friend of mine had been playing her bowls she uses to assist in her sessions’ healing, and she allowed me to play them. I was hooked! The way I felt like I was dancing with the bowls, that the energy I was pouring into them alchemized through sound, it felt so natural; so grounding. I ended up finding a certification training soon after, and practiced on anyone who would allow me the opportunity. It feels so aligned for me to provide people with a space where they can relax into themselves, allow room for breath, and restore their energy. Ever since then, I have had the gift of providing sessions to individuals, couples, and groups across the Southern California region in their own homes, yoga studios, metaphysical shops, campgrounds, temples, and much more. It’s been such a blessing to follow through on a calling that really called me in, to allow me to be a vessel for others to self discover more about their own energy and light.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Starting my own business hasn’t always been a smooth road. I find the bumps along the way are what made this path unique and worthwhile, and allowed me to show myself my own determination to move through obstacles with grace. On top of sound healing, I am a college student, childcare professional, and dancer, and want to give all of my energy to everything I do. For a while, this left me feeling a little too fragmented, which is when I realized I needed to implement more structure in how I use my time, and how to wield my energy. I realized I was so busy taking care of those around me that I needed to practice more of what I preached and pour more time into self care. My mom always told me “I can’t give water from an empty cup.” Whether it means a 5 minute breathing exercise before dance rehearsals, bringing my laptop to work at a coffee shop I’ve found community in, listening to high frequency music on my drive to my sound healing sessions, playing my gong to myself before a nighttime ritual, or engulfing myself in the childlike wonder of babies and toddlers while at work with children, I’ve been learning how to stay present and enjoy the process. The more I energetically thrive, the more energy from a full (or overflowing) cup I have to give back.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a Certified Sound Bath Practitioner, providing sound scapes to allow my clients to drop into the theta brain wave (or meditative) state. I am known for creating spaces that build community, where people have time and space to ground into their own energy and the opportunity to connect with others at the end of each session. My clients have told me that they appreciate the way I conduct sound, and allow room for each instrument to breathe. Though I am playing instruments, I make sure it is not a performance, but rather an offering. As a dancer, I not only find that my physical and energetic body are dancing with my instruments throughout, but it is also easy for me to notice if and where my clients are holding tension in their bodies. I intentionally send my energy to those people’s tension spots throughout the sound session to hopefully provide some ease. Brand-wise, I feel really grateful that what I’ve built has attracted so many clients from so many different backgrounds. I’ve worked with children as young as 5, all the way through working with seniors who haven’t previously found themselves in a holistic environment. I find that my warmth and openness allows others to feel the same and maybe try something new and discover themselves a bit deeper, which I am beyond grateful for. When it comes to my offerings, I not only offer sound healing, but I also work with oracle cards as well, which can be an add on to individual sessions or be used as a service separately.
In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
Even in the past few years alone, I’ve seen a boom in the sound healing and holistic care industry and the exposure it’s gotten. There have been so many people called to do this work, and I’m glad that more holistic care is becoming more normalized in today’s society. It’s truly done wonders for so many people’s health and well-being. The concept of spirituality has become a “trend,” and though the popularization of concepts surrounding the metaphysical has been incredible to watch, and something I believe in, I have found that sometimes the integrity of the work is lost. I want to stress the importance of the belief that each individual has the power to do energetic work on themselves. Yes, I provide a space and soundscape that makes that energetic work easier to access for some, but anyone claiming to have the power to heal someone else is falsely advertising in a way. It is one’s openness to be able to alchemize their own energy that allows these practices to work. With this “new age spirituality” becoming a trend, I want to stress that these modalities have the power to work because YOU have the power and openness within yourselves. If that concept becomes the norm, I truly believe the next 5-10 years can further a huge shift in collective consciousness, which could truly be a magical experience for all of us to witness.
Pricing:
- Public Group Sessions: $35 per person
- Private Individual Sessions: offered at sliding scale $125+/hr
- Private Group Sessions: offered at sliding scale: $300+/hr
- Corporate/Large Group Events: base pay $500/hr
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.restorativerhythms.life
- Instagram: @restorative.rhythms
- Other: https://popl.co/card/oBCIXnxo/1/s
